Nigeria’s Northeast Faces Mass Hunger as UN Funding Dwindles

Nigeria’s northeastern region is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, with mass hunger looming as United Nations (UN) funding dwindles. The region, already grappling with the devastating effects of prolonged conflict, is facing severe food shortages that threaten the lives of millions.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has sounded the alarm, warning that without immediate international support, the situation could spiral out of control. According to the WFP, about 4.3 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are in dire need of food assistance. The funding shortfall means that vital aid operations are at risk of being scaled back or even halted.

“The crisis in northeastern Nigeria is at a tipping point,” said David Beasley, Executive Director of the WFP. “We are running out of resources to provide life-saving food assistance. The international community must step up now, or we will see a catastrophic loss of life.”

The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria’s northeast is largely a result of the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Over a decade of violence has displaced millions of people, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted agricultural production. The situation has been exacerbated by climatic shocks and economic instability, making it increasingly difficult for families to access food.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that funding for humanitarian operations in Nigeria has fallen significantly short of needs. As of mid-2024, only about 30% of the required $1.3 billion had been received. This gap has forced aid agencies to make tough choices, prioritizing the most vulnerable while scaling back on other critical services.

“Every day, we are forced to decide who gets food and who does not,” lamented OCHA Nigeria’s head, Matthias Schmale. “These are heart-wrenching decisions, but without adequate funding, we simply cannot reach everyone in need.”

The impact on the ground is stark. In displacement camps across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, children are suffering from acute malnutrition, and families are resorting to desperate measures to survive. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted the alarming rates of malnutrition among children, with one in five children under five years old in the region acutely malnourished.

Amina Ali, a mother of four in a camp near Maiduguri, described the daily struggle for food. “We rely entirely on the food aid we receive. Without it, we have nothing. My children go to bed hungry many nights,” she said, her voice filled with despair.

The dwindling funding comes at a time when global humanitarian needs are at an all-time high. Conflicts, natural disasters, and economic crises worldwide have stretched international aid budgets thin. However, the WFP and other agencies stress that ignoring the crisis in Nigeria’s northeast could have far-reaching consequences.

“The situation in Nigeria’s northeast is not just a local issue; it has global implications,” warned Beasley. “If we do not address the root causes of hunger and instability here, the repercussions will be felt beyond Nigeria’s borders, contributing to further displacement and migration.”

To avert a full-scale disaster, the WFP and its partners are calling for urgent contributions from governments, private sector donors, and individuals. They emphasize that timely and sustained support is essential to prevent the crisis from worsening and to help build resilience in the affected communities.

Despite the grim outlook, there are glimmers of hope. Efforts to improve agricultural productivity, restore livelihoods, and promote peacebuilding are ongoing. Humanitarian organizations are working tirelessly to provide not only immediate relief but also long-term solutions to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

As Nigeria’s northeast stands at the precipice of mass hunger, the international community’s response will determine the fate of millions. The call for action is clear: the time to act is now, before it is too late.

Source: reuters.com